democrat dick durbin of illinois >> i don't want to say confident because i'm a senator. you know, i spend my whole life disappointed. i've been 12 years on the dream act but i've never felt better about it and more positive >> woodruff: and arizona republican jeff flake who said the election results got lawmakers' attention, even those who doubt immigration reform. >> there is motivation to get it behind us for those who don't want to deal with it as well. so i think we have the planets aligned here now to move ahead >> woodruff: the biggest hurdle could come in the republican-controlled house where another bipartisan group is working on a competing plan. the first house committee hearing takes place next tuesday. >> ifill: we take a closer look now at how the politics of the immigration debate are unfolding with clarissa martiÍnez de castro, director of civic engagement and immigration for the national council of la raza. and kris kobach, the kansas secretary of state who helped write arizona's strict immigration law. welcome to you both. clarissa martinez de castro, a